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PRINCETON: Library achieves, slightly exceeds, $2.9 million fundraising goal

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Officials at the Princeton Public Library hit and even slightly exceeded the initial $2.9 million fundraising target they set to pay for renovating the second-floor of the library, an estimated six-month project due to start in March.
Library director Leslie Burger on Tuesday shared that news about the fundraising efforts with the library’s board of trustees, which gave the green light for moving ahead with further design phases of the project. Donations came in amounts big and small, with some donors making their contributions over a staggered period of four years in some cases.
In response to patron needs, Ms. Burger is looking to redesign the second floor to create nine quiet study rooms, a new quiet reading room and other features, including space for patrons to take cell phone calls. More design details still need to be finalized between now and when work crews get started.
In the meantime, the library will continue to raise money from donors for the project, even as Ms. Burger and her staff juggle a series of related issues about continuing to provide services when construction is going on.
The project will disrupt life at the library. Ms. Burger outlined plans to store the bulk of the second-floor book collection off site at a location that Princeton University will provide at no charge.
The library also plans to relocate its high circulation nonfiction books to the first floor, primarily cooking, travel and biographies, she said. Books that patrons want but are not available will have to be acquired through inter-library loan.
As an aside, the library is considering renting space in Palmer Square or another nearby location to have a satellite site temporarily where people can work on computers and have otherwise quiet space during construction. Specifically, one location being considered is a storefront at the end of Hulfish Street, by the wine store.
“We haven’t made a decision,” she said of having temporary space.
She said she inquired about other locations in town, including an underused firehouse.
If the library rents space, there would be staff on site to assist patrons, she said.